Neutral attack

Kirby's neutral attack in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. 4.

A neutral attack, (officially standard attack, also known as a jab, neutral A, neutral combo or AAA), is an attack performed by pressing the attack button, the A button by default, while one's character is standing, and the control stick or Wiimote directional pad is in a neutral position. A neutral attack can also be performed by crouching and tilting the Control Stick diagonally downwards in the opposite direction the character is facing, as well as by pressing the grab button right after returning to the standing animation after crouching. Jabs are typically fast, short-ranged, weak hits that are useful for starting combos, or breaking opponents' shields. Many jabs, such as Mario's, form natural "neutral" combos of two or three hits, the final hit usually inflicting the most damage and knockback, while others, such as Fox's, initiate rapid, continuous, multi-hit attacks that opponents must often DI out of.

The speed at which each hit in the sequence of a neutral combo is executed can be controlled through the timing of a player's button taps. In Melee and Brawl, neutral combos may be interrupted by crouching or shielding, in order to restart them, or to perform other moves quickly after canceling them.

Skilled players generally avoid using neutral attacks, because despite their intended use, they usually have high ending lag. The hits can also be smash DI'ed out of, have poor range, and most are inferior to other ground attacks a character may have, such as forward tilts and down tilts. Rapid jabs in particular have very high ending lag, can be easily punished, and cannot be ended easily, because tapping the attack button to perform something else only extends the time the rapid jab is held. A notable exception to this is Ike, whose neutral attack and jab combos are one of his most powerful assets.

In Super Smash Bros.

In the original Super Smash Bros, standard attacks consisting of consecutive hits, which form neutral combos, are executed by tapping A the appropriate number of times. Characters who possess a rapid jab are able to repeat it steadily and indefinitely if a player repeatedly taps A once the rapid jab is initiated.

Character	Neutral combo	Rapid jab	Description
Captain Falcon	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit	Does a fast hit 2%-3%, and then another fast hit for 3%-4%, and then the "Gentleman" hit (2%-4%). It then leads to a series of punches that deal 1% damage each.
Donkey Kong	2 hits		Does a fast jab (2%-4%), followed by a uppercut (2%-4%)
Fox	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit	Does two fast jabs (4% each), followed by a series of rapid kicks (1% each). Series is continuous if the A button is pushed rapidly.
Jigglypuff	2 hits		Does two jabs. The first hit does 3% while the second hit does 4%-7%.
Kirby	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit	Does two jabs similar to how Jigglypuff does them (First does 3% and second does 4%). This then follows with weak, long ranged punches that do 1% each.
Link	3 hits	launches optionally after 2nd hit	Does two sword swipes (first hit does 4%-5% and second does 3%), followed by a stab that does 4%. The third hit can be replaced by a series of rapid jabs that do 1% each if he is close to his opponents.
Luigi	3 hits		Does a jab (2%), a punch (2%-4%), and a kick (4%-8%). A natural combo.
Mario	3 hits		Does a jab (2%), a punch (2%-4%), and a kick (4%-8%). This was directly taken from Super Mario 64. Is capable of doing a jab grab
Ness	3 hits		Does two punches and a side kick. First hit does 2%, second does 2%-4%, third does 4%-8%.
Pikachu	1 hit		Headbutts forward itself for 2%. Can also do a jab grab.
Samus	2 hits		Does a jab for 3%, and then swings her arm cannon downwards for 7%.
Yoshi	2 hits		Double kicks, first hit does 3% and second does 5%-8%.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Similarly to the original Smash Bros, in Melee, standard attacks that form neutral combos are executed by tapping A the appropriate number of times, and characters who possess a rapid jab are able to repeat it steadily and indefinitely if a player repeatedly taps A once the rapid jab is initiated. Many CPUs use this attack often.

Character	Neutral combo	Rapid jab
Bowser	2 hits
Captain Falcon	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Doctor Mario	3 hits
Donkey Kong	2 hits
Falco	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Fox	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Ganondorf	1 hit
Ice Climbers	2 hits
Jigglypuff	2 hits
Kirby	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Link	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Luigi	3 hits
Mario	3 hits
Marth	2 hits
Mewtwo	1 hit	launches after 1st hit
Mr. Game & Watch	1 hit	launches on 1st hit
Ness	3 hits
Peach	2 hits
Pichu	1 hit	launches on 1st hit
Pikachu	1 hit	launches on 1st hit
Roy	2 hits
Samus	2 hits
Sheik	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Yoshi	2 hits
Young Link	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Zelda	1 hit

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Wolf's three hit neutral attack in Brawl.

In Brawl, holding the A button has several uses when performing neutral attacks. Standard attacks consisting of consecutive hits that form neutral combos may be executed either by tapping A the appropriate number of times, or by holding A when one of the attacks connects with an opponent. Characters who possess a rapid jab are able to repeat it steadily and indefinitely if a player holds A once the rapid jab is initiated, however, tapping A repeatedly also works. Additionally, if A is held without attacking an opponent, some characters are able to repeat the first hit of their jab continuously until it does connect, after which their neutral combo will follow, a technique called consecutive jabbing. It should be noted that different characters' consecutive jabs repeat at different paces, with Fox and Snake possessing very fast consecutive jabs, and Ike and Sonic very slow ones.

Character	Description	Consecutive jab	Neutral combo	Rapid jab
Bowser	Delivers two swipes with his claws. 5%, then 5%.		2 hits
Captain Falcon	Punches twice, followed by a knee, then a series of rapid punches. 4%, 4%, 5%, and 1%.		3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Charizard	A right hand slash, a left hand slash, and a slash with the right wing. 3%, 4%, and 6%.		3 hits
Diddy Kong	Slaps twice, turns around and kicks with his foot, and flicks his tail rapidly. 3%, 2%, and 2%, and the tail attack delivers 2% normally and 1% at the tip.		3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Donkey Kong	Delivers two punches. 4% and 6%.		2 hits
Falco	Delivers two arm slashes, then spins around rapidly with his arms extended. 4%, 2%, and 1%.		2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Fox			2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Ganondorf			1 hit
Ice Climbers			2 hits
Ike			3 hits
Ivysaur			2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Jigglypuff			2 hits
King Dedede			2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Kirby			2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Link			3 hits
Lucario			3 hits
Lucas			3 hits
Luigi			3 hits
Mario			3 hits
Marth			2 hits
Meta Knight*				launches immediately
Mr. Game & Watch			1 hit	launches after 2nd hit
Ness			3 hits
Olimar			2 hits
Peach			2 hits
Pikachu			1 hit	launches on 1st hit
Pit**			2 or 3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
R.O.B			2 hits
Samus			2 hits
Sheik			2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Snake			3 hits
Sonic			3 hits
Squirtle			3 hits
Toon Link			3 hits
Wario			2 hits
Wolf			3 hits
Yoshi			2 hits
Zelda			1 hit
Zero Suit Samus			3 hits

*Meta Knight's neutral attack is unique, as it is the only jab that functions as a rapid attack, but cannot function as a single hit attack. When A is pressed, a rapid attack is immediately launched and may be continued indefinitely. However, even if A is not held, Meta Knight will slash several times before the move ends.

**Pit's neutral attack can function as either a three hit combo, or a two hit combo that launches into a rapid attack, depending on the player's input. If A is held during the second hit, Pit performs the three hit combo, but if A is pressed three times, the rapid attack initiates and continues for as long as A is held afterwards. Pit is the only character who possesses two different types of jabs.

Gallery

• 

  An animation of Mario's neutral attack in Melee

• Neutral A.jpg

  The first hit of Mario's neutral attack in Brawl.

See also

• Jab cancel
• Jab lock